Home of the Week

Industrial strength styling

IS "20th century industrial chic" an actual design style? No matter. This two-bedroom, 2 1/2-bathroom Silver Lake dandy is definitely one of a kind.

This house is not for those who are seeking warm and fuzzy. There's no cuddling up to exposed pipes and ductwork, corrugated aluminum walls or a public-style bathroom with a urinal and a wall-mounted hand dryer.

The home has a decidedly futuristic and industrial look -- and it's certainly not lacking in originality and whimsy. (That bathroom also has a "public-restroom" sign and comes with a toilet-seat-cover dispenser.)

But the piece de resistance is easily the full-on commercial kitchen, which is impressive enough to appeal to anyone's inner chef. It features a Garland six-burner range, two ovens, stainless-steel cabinetry and a Traulsen commercial refrigerator with a glass front. The cabinets are glass-fronted as well.

The stainless-steel center island doubles as a chef's rack with many built-ins and a professional Curtis Co. coffee brewer. The main double sink is supported by a corner sous chef's sink. There is a restaurant-style dining booth, and glass doors lead to a downstairs patio area.

About this house: Designer James Halliday was the brains behind this operation. He transformed what had been a traditional-style home in 1991. Such high-concept styling isn't usually found in this price range.

Asking price: $1,399,000

Size: Two bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms in 2,546 square feet.

Features: The living room includes a built-in movie projector and a complete wet bar with stools and cafe seating. The guest room doubles as an office, with a Murphy bed that tucks nicely out of sight when not in use.

The padded, step-down Kohler spa tub in the master suite can be programmed to fill at a prescribed hour and with water at just the right temperature. The master bathroom has twin sinks, a dual-head shower and another urinal -- this one with a matching bidet. Niceties include a towel-warming rack next to the master tub and three skylights above it. The exposed ductwork is also functional: It's the central-air and heating system.

To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high-resolution color photographs with caption and credit information on a CD and a detailed description of the house to Ruth Ryon, Real Estate section, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Questions may be sent to homeoftheweek@latimes.com.